Northeastern Pennsylvania Travel Nursing: Poconos, the Office, and More

When considering your next travel nursing destination, be sure to include Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region on your shortlist. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is bursting with a diverse array of things to see and do, including cultural events, historical attractions, trendy eateries, exciting entertainment, and outdoor adventure.

Here are four reasons you should consider northeastern Pennsylvania for your next travel nursing assignment.

1. HIKING IN THE POCONOS

Renowned for scenic beauty and a wealth of recreational opportunities, the nearby Pocono Mountains boast so many hiking trails that it would probably take you at least the typical 13-week assignment to conquer them all. At Promised Land State Park, 50 miles of hiking trails lead to a variety of scenic spots; here, the mountain laurel and rhododendron burst into color from mid-May through June, while blueberries are ripe for picking in July.

Hiking to Bushkill Falls, the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” is a must. A series of eight waterfalls, it’s accessed via a vast network of trails. Along the way you’ll pass tranquil streams and deep pools as well as wildflowers in late spring.

2. WINTER AND SUMMER PLAY ON MONTAGE MOUNTAIN

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region is a great place to be a travel nurse in the winter too. Just minutes from the city of Wilkes-Barre is one of the state’s most popular ski resorts: Montage Mountain, with great terrain for beginners along with fantastic slopes for the intermediate and expert skier, too. When all that snow has melted, it’s time to cool off at the water park, which features a lazy river, alpine slides, a wave pool and even a thrilling Zip Rider that reaches speeds of up to 50 mph as it soars high above for an incredible bird’s-eye view.

3. CHANNEL YOUR INNER MICHAEL SCOTT FROM ‘THE OFFICE’

If you’re a fan of the hit TV series “The Office,” have fun channeling your inner Michael Scott by visiting some of the hangout spots referenced in the show. Scranton is a mecca of sorts for fans, as the setting of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Arguably the most famous hangout spot for The Office crew is Poor Richard’s, located in a bowling alley.

Scranton’s premier shopping center is the Steamtown Mall. The mall embraces its time in The Office spotlight with an extensive display that includes show-related memorabilia, cardboard cutouts of the characters, and the like. You can even check out the “Scranton Welcomes You” sign which is featured prominently in the show’s opening credits.

4. TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME

Take a tour of the Frederick Stegmaier Mansion, explore the Nathan Denison House, and even don a hard hat for a ride underground by joining the Lackawanna Coal Mine tour. The retired mine is now a museum located in Scranton’s McDade Park. You’ll board a mine car before descending into the Clark Vein of coal, 300 feet beneath the surface of the earth to see how and where workers toiled to heat the country and fuel the conversion of the economy from agriculture to industry.

A WEALTH OF ENTERTAINMENT AWAITS DURING YOUR TRAVEL ASSIGNMENT

There’s an endless array of entertainment options that await you in northeastern Pennsylvania. Enjoy intimate dinner theaters like the Music Box Theatre and the historic FM Kirby Center or visit Mohegan Sun Area with its big-name performers and Mohegan Sun Pocono, which offers slot and table games, harness racing, and a number of dining venues. Fest-goers can look forward to attending the annual Pittston Tomato Festival in Pittston, the Luzerne County Fair, and all sorts of other events throughout the year.

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